Chapter 11:
"Well," Lark said as she stood before the others in the conference room, "It is time to go, is everyone ready?"
There were silent nods from all over the room. Lark looked at Heero and smiled, she was going home!
"Ok then," she said as she straightened the papers on the table, "Let's get going."
_____
In a matter of minutes, the Yahara Moon was on its way to Quarrentine with seven Gundams and their pilots on board. Lark set the controls on autopilot, then left the control room to find the others.
She walked down the hall, savoring the feeling of the powerful Yahara Moon under her, traveling a hundred times over the speed of light, barely noticeable as she picked her feet up off the gravity laden floor. She was going home! Then she sighed, I hope we aren't too late!
"Lark! There you are!" Lark looked up to find Heero walking, with a bit of difficulty, toward her.
Lark laughed, "Do I need to fix the gravity to Earth's scale?"
Heero suddenly became aware that he was struggling, and Lark knew, he shoved it off as not important, "The others can hardly move, it doesn't bother me."
"Well this is the same as Quarrentine," Lark replied, smiling at Heero's obvious discomfort of being the weaker soldier.
"I knew that!" Heero snapped a bit too defensively. They grimaced together.
"You're just not used to it anymore," Lark replied, a bit hurt by Heero's snapping at her.
Heero frowned as he sighed, "I'm so sorry Ly." He said as he smiled at her, "You forgive me? I just don't like for weakness to show."
Lark smiled back, "I forgive you. How couldn't I? You're still my best friend in the whole universe. And I know you hate to be the weaker one. But don't worry, you'll come out stronger than me, you always do."
Heero smiled at her, "You sure about that? I've got a lot of catching up to do."
Lark smiled playfully, "You're right, I'll always be stronger!"
Heero raised his left eyebrow at her in mock offense, "No way!"
Lark laughed as she took off running down the hall. Heero would not be able to keep up, and it would not bother him one bit. Lark smiled, all the more reason to run. Lark was not really paying attention when Heero came up behind her and put her in a bear hug. He was breathing heavily from his run but, man he's persistent!
Heero laughed into Lark's ear. "I catch on quick."
"So you do," Lark replied as she broke free and dropped to the floor, knocking his feet out from under him. They both fell into a laughing heap on the floor. "You nut!" Lark exclaimed as she shoved Heero's head.
He smiled at her, "Yup. That's me!"
Lark was taken aback. That definitely was not Heero Yuy, but what did he mean? Lark squealed as it hit her. She threw her arms around his neck, "Oh Ansel! Welcome back!"
Heero smiled at the sound of his old name, "I'm still Heero, but I found Ansel, and Heero will just have to make room for him."
Lark pulled back and looked at him, "I'm so glad you're gonna be your old self, I really missed you."
Heero laughed as he stood, at the same time pulling Lark to her feet. "Let's go join the others."
"Oh yah!" Lark exclaimed suddenly. "I almost forgot!"
Heero wagged a finger at her, "Shame on you! Forgetting your fiancé! You bad girl! I'm gonna tell Trowa on you!"
Lark's eyes grew big, "You twit! You are so stupid!"
Heero laughed playfully as he started to edge away, "I'm gonna tell on you!"
That does it! "Get out of my face."
"What you gonna do?" Heero smiled devilishly as he poked her arm.
"Ansel Chiaki! I'm gonna kill you!" Lark went to punch him, but to her surprise, he took off running, laughing all the way. "You little jerk!"
Lark smiled as she ran after Heero, but to her surprise she could not catch him. She was more shocked than anything else. He does catch on quickly!
_____
Wufei looked up as Heero burst into the room, laughing like a hyper little child. Must be the lack of air, he thought as he watched Heero cross the room and plop down on the couch next to Trowa. He was still laughing as he whispered something to Trowa, then Lark interrupted and tackled him, Yup. Lack of air to the brain, makes you nuts.
He looked over at Duo and Quatre and frowned, so now it was contagious! They had both joined in what seemed like a five-man-wrestling-match. He rolled his eyes in disgust at this. Soldiers shouldn't laugh and giggle like children! He sighed, they would not listen anyway, and they had the best reputation of being great soldiers, so who was he to judge them on what they did with their free time?
He laid his head back and looked up at the ceiling. What was going on with these people? He did not remember ever getting giddy just from flying through space. Yet, there was a couple children at heart here so why not bring out the children in everyone? He sighed as he looked back at the scene. Trowa and Heero had pinned Lark, and Duo and Quatre were tickling her. He rolled his eyes again, Such children!
Lark was screaming and laughing as she twisted and fought to free herself, "You're all gonna get a beating after this!"
Wufei could not help but laugh, they'd better not let her up after that statement. Lark was a lot of things, but she was a woman of her word, if she said she would beat you, then you had better watch out, cause it would be coming soon. And then it happened. Wufei watched as Lark freed one arm and slammed a fist into Duo's stomach. He doubled over in pain and backed off. Then, with both of her arms now free, she threw a punch that landed on Quatre's chest, sending him flying backwards. She jumped up and tackled Heero. They rolled across the floor, arms locked, then Heero jammed a foot into her midriff and sent her flying over him.
Wufei's eyes grew big. Wow! What a fighter! He might want to wrestle with her sometime. But for now, he was focused on Lark and Heero. Quatre and Duo had retreated to one of the couches, and Trowa was slowly sneaking away. Wufei threw a glance back at Lark, and sure enough, she had noticed, and was now on her way to make sure that Trowa got his beating too. This is sad, Wufei thought, If he can't beat her, then he doesn't deserve her!
Trowa threw his arms up in surrender, and Lark growled angrily, The wuss! She leaped like a tiger would, wrapping her arms around his middle and knocking him to the floor. They landed with a thud and Lark threw a punch at his head. Surprisingly enough, Trowa dodged it and used the distraction to push Lark off of him. He stood and stepped back into a fighting stance. Wow! He isn't a wuss after all!
Lark smiled and matched him with a fighting stance of her own, "Alright, let's go!"
"Must we?" Trowa asked as he straitened and folded his arms. "I'd rather not."
Lark clenched her fists in anger. "You want to marry me?"
Trowa was confused, "Yes, I want to marry you, but what's that got to do with my fighting you?"
"You have to prove yourself one way or another!" Lark screamed and Trowa blanched. "Armand and Hwoarang will make you fight them if you don't beat me. In my family you have to prove yourself."
The other four were watching avidly, wondering what would happen next.
Trowa turned and started away, "I'll fight you when the time is right."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lark barked as she started toward him.
Trowa turned to face her, "I'll fight you when you're not completely gone." His eyes searched hers. "Where'd my Lark go? You're filled with so much anger. Chill out!"
Lark forgot her anger as she realized how much the man standing before her loved her. She let her shoulders sag, and she hung her head. He was right! She had gotten so angry, what had happened to having fun for fun?
Trowa lifted her chin and made her look at him, "Come get me when you've settled down. I'll be in my room."
He kissed her, then he was gone.
_____
Heero walked over to Lark, who was still standing where Trowa had left her, her head hung low.
"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked as he rubbed his elbow where he had hit it on the floor during his and Lark's little rumble.
Lark looked up at him with confusion written all over her face. "I don't know what came over me."
Heero laughed and put his arm around her shoulders. "I do," he informed her.
Lark looked up and arched an eyebrow at him. "You do, do you?"
"Yes," Heero replied as he started to walk and pulled her with him. "You're anxious about getting home and the homesickness is driving you crazy."
"I don't think being homesick for a war-laden world is......" she was cut short.
"But it is!" Heero protested as he stopped and turned to face her. "It's your home, your family is there. Trust me, I know what it's like to be homesick."
Lark frowned at him, "Yeah."
"Well," Heero said as he plunged his hands into his pockets, "What's the battle plan?"
"Um........."Lark replied as she bit her lip, "I don't know yet, but I'll think of something."
"Well," Lark said as she stood before the others in the conference room, "It is time to go, is everyone ready?"
There were silent nods from all over the room. Lark looked at Heero and smiled, she was going home!
"Ok then," she said as she straightened the papers on the table, "Let's get going."
_____
In a matter of minutes, the Yahara Moon was on its way to Quarrentine with seven Gundams and their pilots on board. Lark set the controls on autopilot, then left the control room to find the others.
She walked down the hall, savoring the feeling of the powerful Yahara Moon under her, traveling a hundred times over the speed of light, barely noticeable as she picked her feet up off the gravity laden floor. She was going home! Then she sighed, I hope we aren't too late!
"Lark! There you are!" Lark looked up to find Heero walking, with a bit of difficulty, toward her.
Lark laughed, "Do I need to fix the gravity to Earth's scale?"
Heero suddenly became aware that he was struggling, and Lark knew, he shoved it off as not important, "The others can hardly move, it doesn't bother me."
"Well this is the same as Quarrentine," Lark replied, smiling at Heero's obvious discomfort of being the weaker soldier.
"I knew that!" Heero snapped a bit too defensively. They grimaced together.
"You're just not used to it anymore," Lark replied, a bit hurt by Heero's snapping at her.
Heero frowned as he sighed, "I'm so sorry Ly." He said as he smiled at her, "You forgive me? I just don't like for weakness to show."
Lark smiled back, "I forgive you. How couldn't I? You're still my best friend in the whole universe. And I know you hate to be the weaker one. But don't worry, you'll come out stronger than me, you always do."
Heero smiled at her, "You sure about that? I've got a lot of catching up to do."
Lark smiled playfully, "You're right, I'll always be stronger!"
Heero raised his left eyebrow at her in mock offense, "No way!"
Lark laughed as she took off running down the hall. Heero would not be able to keep up, and it would not bother him one bit. Lark smiled, all the more reason to run. Lark was not really paying attention when Heero came up behind her and put her in a bear hug. He was breathing heavily from his run but, man he's persistent!
Heero laughed into Lark's ear. "I catch on quick."
"So you do," Lark replied as she broke free and dropped to the floor, knocking his feet out from under him. They both fell into a laughing heap on the floor. "You nut!" Lark exclaimed as she shoved Heero's head.
He smiled at her, "Yup. That's me!"
Lark was taken aback. That definitely was not Heero Yuy, but what did he mean? Lark squealed as it hit her. She threw her arms around his neck, "Oh Ansel! Welcome back!"
Heero smiled at the sound of his old name, "I'm still Heero, but I found Ansel, and Heero will just have to make room for him."
Lark pulled back and looked at him, "I'm so glad you're gonna be your old self, I really missed you."
Heero laughed as he stood, at the same time pulling Lark to her feet. "Let's go join the others."
"Oh yah!" Lark exclaimed suddenly. "I almost forgot!"
Heero wagged a finger at her, "Shame on you! Forgetting your fiancé! You bad girl! I'm gonna tell Trowa on you!"
Lark's eyes grew big, "You twit! You are so stupid!"
Heero laughed playfully as he started to edge away, "I'm gonna tell on you!"
That does it! "Get out of my face."
"What you gonna do?" Heero smiled devilishly as he poked her arm.
"Ansel Chiaki! I'm gonna kill you!" Lark went to punch him, but to her surprise, he took off running, laughing all the way. "You little jerk!"
Lark smiled as she ran after Heero, but to her surprise she could not catch him. She was more shocked than anything else. He does catch on quickly!
_____
Wufei looked up as Heero burst into the room, laughing like a hyper little child. Must be the lack of air, he thought as he watched Heero cross the room and plop down on the couch next to Trowa. He was still laughing as he whispered something to Trowa, then Lark interrupted and tackled him, Yup. Lack of air to the brain, makes you nuts.
He looked over at Duo and Quatre and frowned, so now it was contagious! They had both joined in what seemed like a five-man-wrestling-match. He rolled his eyes in disgust at this. Soldiers shouldn't laugh and giggle like children! He sighed, they would not listen anyway, and they had the best reputation of being great soldiers, so who was he to judge them on what they did with their free time?
He laid his head back and looked up at the ceiling. What was going on with these people? He did not remember ever getting giddy just from flying through space. Yet, there was a couple children at heart here so why not bring out the children in everyone? He sighed as he looked back at the scene. Trowa and Heero had pinned Lark, and Duo and Quatre were tickling her. He rolled his eyes again, Such children!
Lark was screaming and laughing as she twisted and fought to free herself, "You're all gonna get a beating after this!"
Wufei could not help but laugh, they'd better not let her up after that statement. Lark was a lot of things, but she was a woman of her word, if she said she would beat you, then you had better watch out, cause it would be coming soon. And then it happened. Wufei watched as Lark freed one arm and slammed a fist into Duo's stomach. He doubled over in pain and backed off. Then, with both of her arms now free, she threw a punch that landed on Quatre's chest, sending him flying backwards. She jumped up and tackled Heero. They rolled across the floor, arms locked, then Heero jammed a foot into her midriff and sent her flying over him.
Wufei's eyes grew big. Wow! What a fighter! He might want to wrestle with her sometime. But for now, he was focused on Lark and Heero. Quatre and Duo had retreated to one of the couches, and Trowa was slowly sneaking away. Wufei threw a glance back at Lark, and sure enough, she had noticed, and was now on her way to make sure that Trowa got his beating too. This is sad, Wufei thought, If he can't beat her, then he doesn't deserve her!
Trowa threw his arms up in surrender, and Lark growled angrily, The wuss! She leaped like a tiger would, wrapping her arms around his middle and knocking him to the floor. They landed with a thud and Lark threw a punch at his head. Surprisingly enough, Trowa dodged it and used the distraction to push Lark off of him. He stood and stepped back into a fighting stance. Wow! He isn't a wuss after all!
Lark smiled and matched him with a fighting stance of her own, "Alright, let's go!"
"Must we?" Trowa asked as he straitened and folded his arms. "I'd rather not."
Lark clenched her fists in anger. "You want to marry me?"
Trowa was confused, "Yes, I want to marry you, but what's that got to do with my fighting you?"
"You have to prove yourself one way or another!" Lark screamed and Trowa blanched. "Armand and Hwoarang will make you fight them if you don't beat me. In my family you have to prove yourself."
The other four were watching avidly, wondering what would happen next.
Trowa turned and started away, "I'll fight you when the time is right."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lark barked as she started toward him.
Trowa turned to face her, "I'll fight you when you're not completely gone." His eyes searched hers. "Where'd my Lark go? You're filled with so much anger. Chill out!"
Lark forgot her anger as she realized how much the man standing before her loved her. She let her shoulders sag, and she hung her head. He was right! She had gotten so angry, what had happened to having fun for fun?
Trowa lifted her chin and made her look at him, "Come get me when you've settled down. I'll be in my room."
He kissed her, then he was gone.
_____
Heero walked over to Lark, who was still standing where Trowa had left her, her head hung low.
"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked as he rubbed his elbow where he had hit it on the floor during his and Lark's little rumble.
Lark looked up at him with confusion written all over her face. "I don't know what came over me."
Heero laughed and put his arm around her shoulders. "I do," he informed her.
Lark looked up and arched an eyebrow at him. "You do, do you?"
"Yes," Heero replied as he started to walk and pulled her with him. "You're anxious about getting home and the homesickness is driving you crazy."
"I don't think being homesick for a war-laden world is......" she was cut short.
"But it is!" Heero protested as he stopped and turned to face her. "It's your home, your family is there. Trust me, I know what it's like to be homesick."
Lark frowned at him, "Yeah."
"Well," Heero said as he plunged his hands into his pockets, "What's the battle plan?"
"Um........."Lark replied as she bit her lip, "I don't know yet, but I'll think of something."